Luke 17:26-30: "And Just as it happened in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating and drinking, they were marrying, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered to ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Just as it will be on the day that the Son of Man is revealed."

This well known passage is known by Christians and non Christians. It has been used to attempt to scare people into the Kingdom of God. It shows the awesome powerful judgment of god in two instances where His long suffering is exhausted. Those who hear this used to force others into accepting Jesus out of fear will rarely hear of the delay on God's part, giving those who are disobedient every last opportunity to turn back to Him. He stands ready to forgive anyone who will simply accept the gift of salvation He offers. We must swallow a little pride and admit that we are not perfect, that we are sinners. Perfection being what it is, this should not be a great leap of logic for anyone.

Both in the time of Lot and the time of Noah, there were a few things in common:

Life was continuing on as normal right up to the flood. There were couples, or the parents of couples planning weddings, and even weddings taking place. There was sufficient food and drink to prevent a general famine. They were eating and drinking. There is given a sense of well being. Commerce was on going. Everything was normal. But by whose standards?

Wickedness was also rampant in both instances. In the case of Noah, we read that God was grieved that He had even created mankind. This is an amazing contrast from when we were told that God has done everything He can do for event he worst of men to offer them salvation. There is a point where God about the wrongs they commit. In the case of Lot, the men of the city were supernaturally blinded. Yet they were so focused on getting their hands on Lot's guests they failed to be amazed by the fact that not one of them could see all of a sudden. Their wickedness had become normal. They no longer saw what they did as bad or anything less than acceptable.

There is one difference today. There is still a spiritual hunger among the people of God. Some may laugh, but, yet the person sitting next to them at a crusade will get up and walk down the isles with tears in their eyes. The person laughing is as likely to be covering up his or her own insecure feelings and as hungry for Jesus as the person who walked down the isle to meet Jesus. The mocker simply has not reached the end of their personal resources…yet. But when it comes, just like the destruction that came upon these two situations, it will be completely unexpected to them. Pray and continue to be a witness to the world. It is still light, but night is falling.